Clamping Press Power Pack

Today, we dig into our archives and look back at some of the very first Project Showcase files from 2007. The first submissions to the showcase were actually hydraulic systems designed by our store teams in response to a customer’s unique problem that needed a solution.

A customer in Alberta operated a clamping press that used sixteen, 3 in. bore, 14 in. stroke utility cylinders in an assembly line that made pre-fabricated walls. This customer approached our Calgary North hydraulics team to see if we could design a power pack to run this clamping system.

The power pack they assembled consisted of a Barnes two-stage hydraulic gear pump coupled directly to a 5 HP C-Face electric motor, and a 10 gallon reservoir with baffle supplying the oil. The power pack ran the system at two different operating pressures.

When the cylinders were extending, one of the relief valves was set to 1,800 PSI; when retracting, the other relief valve was set to 600 PSI. The team used an H-spool 115 VAC solenoid operated DO3 valve (all ports connected in neutral), and a two-way pilot operated check valve to hold the load and prevent creeping. Each line was equipped with a pressure gauge for accurate readings during operation. The system saved energy when clamping because the pilot operated check valve held the pressure in the cylinders without leaving the power pack on. This also prevented oil from pushing over the relief valve, which would generate a lot of heat. For increased durability, they decided to use 1/2 in. tubing and JIC fittings. The reservoir featured a gate valve on it for clean and easy oil changes, with all valving installed at the top of the reservoir with grade 8 bolts.